Pacific leaders have taken their concerns over West Papua directly to the UN

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale has taken the long-running West Papua human rights issue directly to the United Nations.

Wale is calling again for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to be allowed into the region.

Speaking at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday (NZ time), Wale said reports of human rights violations in West Papua had gone on for too long and needed independent verification.

“Reports of human rights violations in West Papua have persisted for far too long. They must be independently verified, not left in dispute,” Wale told the General Assembly.

He said Solomon Islands respected Indonesia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but had a responsibility to advocate for West Papuans as “our Melanesian brothers and sisters”.

“We therefore renew the call of Pacific Islands Forum leaders for the Government of Indonesia to facilitate, without further delay, the long awaited visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua.”

Pacific leaders have renewed calls for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to be allowed to visit and independently assess the human rights situation in West Papua. Photo/Instagram

Wale framed the proposed visit as a test of transparency and trust between Indonesia and its Pacific neighbours.

“Such a visit is an act of confidence between friends and an affirmation that there is nothing to hide and there is nothing to fear from the light.”

But his address also placed West Papua within a much broader discussion about decolonisation and the right of people to determine their own future.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale with Foreign Affairs Minister Rick Hou and Development Planning Minister Peter Kenilorea Junior at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Photo/Facebook/Pacific Islands Forum

“Leaving no one behind demands that we complete the unfinished business of decolonization... It must provide practical pathways to the full emancipation of peoples in non-self-governing territories, and to their freedom to determine their own political future and development aspirations.”

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine also raised West Papua during her UN address, reaffirming her country’s support for the Pacific Islands Forum position.

“The Marshall Islands affirms the recent Pacific Islands Forum communique position regarding West Papua, including the 2018 invitation by Indonesia to the UN Human Rights Commissioner,” Heine said.

She also backed closer engagement between the Pacific and Southeast Asia, welcoming calls for an ASEAN-Pacific Islands Forum ministerial summit.

“The Marshall Islands strongly welcomes recent calls for a ministerial summit between ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum to take forward our 2023 agreement,” she said.

“Our two regions can stand united as neighbours and close friends.”

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine, right, with Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo at the UNGA: Heine reaffirmed the Pacific Islands Forum position on West Papua. Photo/Facebook/Pacific Islands Forum

The renewed calls come as Pacific leaders continue to engage Indonesia over the issue, while the region's approach has included recognising Indonesia’s sovereignty and seeking greater access for independent human rights scrutiny.

Wale also used his address to challenge the gap between global military spending and climate finance for vulnerable countries.

He said global military expenditure had passed US$3 trillion, arguing that money was available for climate action but political will was lacking.

“The resources exist. What is missing is the will, and the time to act is now,” Wale said.

“The world spent more on arms in less than 18 days than developed countries provided in a full year of climate finance. This imbalance must be corrected.”

He called for full funding of the Pacific Resilience Facility, the Loss and Damage Fund and the Green Climate Fund’s third replenishment.

Wale said conflicts and instability outside the Pacific were also being felt by island communities through higher fuel, shipping, electricity and food costs.

“These are not distant events. Every rise in the price of fuel is felt in the cost of shipping, electricity, food and essential services, placing a heavy burden on communities that have no buffer against external shocks,” he said.

“Peace and security are inseparable from development... There are no winners in war, only graves, orphans and the long labour of rebuilding.”

He also raised concerns about transnational crime in Pacific waters and called for reform of the UN Security Council, including greater representation for Small Island Developing States.

For the Pacific, Wale's message was that issues affecting the region, including West Papua, climate finance and ocean security, should have a stronger place in global decision-making.

The UN General Debate/high-level week ended on Monday 28 September but the 81st UNGA session, which opened on 8 September 2026, will run until 7 September 2027.